Laura Brun, whose work is featured in our Fall 2015 Issue, shares her definition of feminism and female influences in this email interview. Read her answers and listen to her recording of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Recuerdo” below. 

Pretty Owl Poetry: What does feminism mean to you?

Laura: Feminism means equality. Taking the time to notice and remake the assumptions in my own social awareness to help everyone break out of the boxes that race, gender, sexuality, class, etc. etc. trap us all with, either trapping in or trapping out. Being good to each other–with a mind toward expanding my idea of what good means to anyone who isn’t me.

POP: Who are some of your female influences? (writers, musicians, personal heroes, etc.)

L: Gertrude Stein. Debbie Harry, Maggie Nelson, Yoko Ono, Dodie Bellamy. Gilda Radner.

POP: What moments in your personal history as a woman stand out to you?

L: Unfortunately, it’s the moments when I had to stand up to the men around me that stick out to me as being moments when I felt most a woman. Becoming a barista really changed my understanding of how prevalent men being gross or threatening in public to women is, which means a lot of uncomfortable moments stick with me. Being available to the general public in the way service workers often are, meant a lot more exposure to the kind of attention I believe mostly women are faced with. It sucked, but gives me insight into the kind of harassment that many women endure on a daily basis.

Instagram: @laurabrrrrun